BOSTON - Known throughout his career for holding his players' feet to the fire, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine is taking a different approach with one of his star pitchers.

Valentine downplayed the latest controversy surrounding Josh Beckett, who played golf last week despite having to miss a scheduled start with what was reported as a latissimus strain.

"Josh is ready to go. He feels great,'' Valentine told media after speaking with Beckett.

And what about the golf? Isn't that a big deal that a pitcher making $17 million but unavailable for a start was healthy enough to hit the links?

"I've never seen a pitcher get hurt playing golf,'' Valentine said.

Asked if he understood the problem of perception that Beckett's antics have caused, Valentine was evasive.

"Sure (he understands). I like everything to be perceived in the right light. I want everything we do to be seen proper,'' Valentine said.

Valentine also gave his own spin to the reason Beckett's start was skipped.

"I didn't think he was injured when he was skipped,'' the manager said.

Beckett experietepidnced soreness in his lat after a 126-pitch start at Chicago on April 29. He had not told Valentine beforehand that he was sore prior to the start, a bit of information Valentine later said would have been nice to know.

For Beckett to play golf last Thursday, knowing he was scratched from Saturday's start, feeds powerfully into the public perception of a star with a guaranteed contract who does not care what anyone thinks about him - and may not care enough about his craft.

It comes after the calamitous finish to the 2011 season. Reports of Beckett and other starting pitchers drinking beer and eating chicken during games they were not pitching has stained the image of the ballclub and especially those involved.

Beckett's reputation has taken the most damaging hit, especially considering John Lackey is on the disabled list and out of public view.

Valentine's meek response this week not only goes against the manager's reputation for toughness, but raises questions of whether he realizes he would lose a showdown with one of his stars.

Neither ownership nor general manager Ben Cherington have spoken on the latest Beckett controversy tempts the picture of a manager without the clout to enforce discipline for a team that appeared to hire him with that in mind.

HERE'S JOHNNY: Had the Red Sox called Johnny Damon in the offseason, the veteran outfielder would have listened.

They didn't, and a star from the 2004 World Series champions returned to Fenway Park Thursday with the Cleveland Indians, his seventh American League team.

Damon's entire 18-year career has been spent in the AL. He entered with a .167 average (5-for-30).

"I was sitting at home, ready to answer anybody's call. The Red Sox did not approach me,'' said Damon, 38.

The Red Sox had shown interest in Damon during August of 2010. They claimed him off waivers, but Boston was one of 21 teams in Damon's contract that he could reject.

He also said he would decline a trade to Boston. Damon said he preferred to stay in Detroit, even though the Red Sox were in playoff contention and the Tigers were not.

This spring, Damon was unemployed until the Indians signed him April 12. He played his first game May 2.

With Travis Hafner the Indians' DH, Damon has been playing the outfield regularly for the first time in three years.

He came to Fenway with 2,728 hits. Reaching 3,000 would probably be a ticket to the Hall of Fame.

"If it happens, it happens. The way I'm swinging the bat now, it might take a good 10 more years,'' Damon said.

NAVA BACK: Outfielder Daniel Nava rejoined the Red Sox and started in left field Thursday.

In 2010, Nava reached the majors at age 27. He hit a grand slam on the first pitch he saw in the big leagues.

That is Nava's only major league home run. He hit .242 in 60 games in 2010, then spent all of 2011 in the minors.

"Obviously, I'm happy to be back. I was definitely surprised,'' said Nava, who was hitting .316 at Pawtucket, but .452 in May.

Reliever Clayton Mortensen was sent to the Pawsox, standardizing Boston's roster with 12 pitchers and four reserve positions players.

Mortensen was demoted for one reason. He had minor league options remaining, while other relievers did not.

He had been outstanding in long relief. In three appearances that encompassed 9 1/3 innings, the righty allowed one run and six hits with 12 strikeouts and no walks for a dazzling 0.96 ERA.

"I don't think Clayton could have done more, but baseball and life aren't fair. Nowhere is it said that it has to be,'' Valentine said.